Protesting Russian Warplanes 'Violating Airspace', Estonia Requests NATO Consultation

Estonia stated that on the morning of the 19th, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace without permission. Estonia called this a serious provocation and will invoke Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, requesting allied countries for collective consultation.

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a news release the same day, saying that the incident occurred over the Gulf of Finland. "Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained for as long as 12 minutes."

Estonia shares a border with Russia, and both countries are located along the coast of the Gulf of Finland.

Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty stipulates that when any contracting party considers its territorial integrity, political independence, or security to be threatened, the contracting parties shall consult together.

Estonian Foreign Minister Sakna stated: "Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times this year already, which in itself is unacceptable. But today’s intrusion... was unprecedented in its blatantness."

This incident occurred amid continued tensions on NATO’s eastern flank. On the evening of the 9th of this month, a large number of drones entered Polish airspace, with Polish military responding urgently and shooting down some of the drones. The Polish government stated the drones originated from Russia, while the Russian side said the Polish accusation was unfounded. NATO Secretary-General Rutte announced on the 12th that NATO would launch a military operation codenamed "Eastern Sentinel" to strengthen the alliance's deterrence and defensive posture on the eastern flank.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated in the early morning of the 20th that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets completed a planned flight on the 19th from the Republic of Karelia in northwest Russia to the Baltic coastal ‘exclave’ Kaliningrad Oblast, and did not deviate from the agreed route or violate Estonian airspace during the process.

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 19th summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires in Estonia to lodge a protest and deliver a note.